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About Pet Chinchillas
Chinchilla Food, Chinchilla Cages
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Owning a caged pet is a commitment but the chinchillas take it to the extreme. The lifespan
of this creature averages at about 15 years old and they can live for as long as 22 years.
Origin
Chinchillas are found in the Andes regions in South America. However, due to their depleting number, they are hard
to find even in their natural habitat. They were hunted down excessively during the early parts of the century for
their soft coats.
Description
Chinchillas have a grey coat with black hair tips. The average male weighs around half a kilo while a female weighs
anywhere between 600 to 800 grams.
Behavior
Chinchillas are, by nature, nocturnal and they are most active from
dusk until dawn. Therefore, it is natural for them to sleep during the day and do their activities at night.
However, according to anecdotes, chinchillas can adapt to the behavior and schedule of their owners, especially
when it comes to sleeping patterns. They are very active and intelligent animals. They normally spend their waking
hours hopping, running around and jumping on walls.
In the wild, chinchillas live in clans of around 100 individuals. Unlike most animal
groups, chinchillas do not follow hierarchy. There is, in fact, no dominant male or female in a group. Each
is a lookout for possible predators.
Temperament
With proper orientation with humans during younger ages, chinchillas can live well with pet owners. However, they
are not as keen to petting and cuddling by contrast with other animals that are more familiar with humans. It is
best to buy chinchillas of the same sex since males tend not to get along with each other very well.
Diet
Chinchillas are herbivores and their diet in their natural habitat is composed typically of roots and plants.
Chinchillas have very sensitive stomachs which make it very important to know all about the foods that they love
and don't. Experienced pet owners and veterinarians recommend good quality hay or grass for normal food along with
high quality chinchilla pellets.
Handling
Chinchillas should be handled with care since most of them are not used to domestic settings. In fact, it is often
left to the pet owner to tame his chinchilla. For ease of training, it is advisable to buy a 3 to 4 month old
chinchilla with prior interaction with humans. Obviously, this is not a pet for children and clumsy handlers as
they tend to get aggressive when annoyed.
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